Yesterday I finally got my outdoor saxophone decoration put up. Earlier this summer I scored a P.O.S. student model alto saxophone, that had been used as a cadaver horn. All the key work had been taken off this Century alto sax, and some of the bits and pieces had been used to repair other horns. The remains were just sitting around in a case, and when I bought the case, I got the sax body with it.
I picked the perfect outdoor spot for the sax body, but life has been rather hectic this summer—topped off by us adopting an orphaned, 6 week old, pure black kitten a couple of weeks ago—so I hadn’t had time to get it mounted. Yesterday I finally got the hook on the shed wall, and voilà, my first, and only, outdoor saxophone began its new life as a garden ornament.
I was going to put dirt into the bell, and put some flowers into the horn, but since it’s rather late in the season that will have to wait until next year.
Since this Century still has 100% of its lacquer intact, it will be interesting to see how it withstands the rain (and couple of snow storms) that make up winter on the West Coast. It is under an overhang, so it won’t be too exposed.
I can tell you that the springs were impossible to remove or cut. Whatever they were made of is crazy hard. They are not blue steel, but I would guess that they’ll still rust.
When we went to hang this Century alto in its new place of honour, we walked through my studio and the newly added sunroom to go outside. As we manoeuvred around all the saxophone cases that are currently out on the floor, couches, and ottomans, I joked about the fact that the horns were multiplying. My partner suggested that I was running a saxophone breeding program. 
I thought I might make a sign saying something like: Shhhh…. Saxophone nursery. Babies sleeping. Although I naturally wouldn’t put a sign like that up outside the house, it would make a funny door sign into my studio.
Would love to buy this piece if it’s a consideration?
Sorry, but it has been converted into this. It is not for sale, since it makes up part of living room decor.
I liked it when it was pretending to be a vine-like plant on the outside of the house, but I like the new incarnation even better.
@Kumar: Yes, the body and neck are in perfect shape. There’s nothing wrong with it. (Other than it’s a poor quality student model horn.)
@Mal-2: No, I don’t have any of the Century’s keys, but I think I can get some from somewhere. I have my sources. 😉 I think that hanging keys off it in some way, or below it in a little planter, is a brilliant idea…
Interesting about the springs. You’re most likely right. I suspect that they’ll survive a nuclear winter. 😈 They were probably the most durable thing on this horn.
@Franco: Welcome to my site. Thanks for the nice words about my site. I do put a fair amount of time and effort into it. I’m glad you enjoy it.
Great idea about the backing board. I’ll have to look into money plants. I’m not familiar with them, so I’m not sure if they grow here. But I do like the idea of trailing plants. I was hoping to find something that I could get to grow out of the tone holes.
Thanks for stopping in and commenting. I hope you do so again…helen
Hi Helen, It would be really nice to mount the sax on a backing board, say, painted red. This would contrast against the back wall. Planting a overhanging succulent, like the ‘money plant’ would had further colour and would survive weather conditions. BTW…. I really enjoy your blog and the effort you put into it.
If you still had any of the keys, or even if you have junker keys off another horn, it would be funny to “plant” a few in the ground directly below the body, and dangle one or more of the long keys from the body as if they were growing vines.
The springs are probably 301 stainless steel in a spring temper. Yamaha started using them instead of blued steel point springs 40 or so years ago on the student models, which is why the action feels somewhat different (generally described as “mushy”). The trade-off is that they DON’T rust, and last virtually forever. They’re also cheaper, which is why they came into use in the first place, since each can simply be cut off a roll of wire.
That horn body looks in fine condition and theres a good neck on it. Some one on SOTW had a C melody minus neck and keys hanging from a tree in the garden .